Latino Daily News

JUST IN: Son of Mega-Church Pastor Rick Warren Commits Suicide

Mega-church Pastor Rick Warren issued a family statement that their youngest son, Matthew, committed suicide on Friday at his home. The 27-year-old according to family members struggled with mental illness most of his life.

Pastor Warren noted in his statement “In spite of America’s best doctors, meds, counselors, and prayers for healing, the torture of mental illness never subsided.” Warren and his wife Kay have three adult children and four grandchildren.

Warren is the pastor and founder of one of the first mega churches in the country, Saddleback Valley Community Church, located in Lake Forest,California. He has long been considered the pioneer of the megachurch movement that has attracted many Latino followers. The church has approximately 15,000 weekly attendees.

Evangelical Latino megachurches are becoming commonplace thanks in great part to the path established by Warren. In 2011 Warren started a new initiative to start new churches representing California’s changing demographics and to answer the faith needs in Latino communities. Pastor Warren is also the author of the bestseller “The Purpose-Driven Life.”

Click here to read the letter Pastor Warren sent his followers regarding his son’s death.